Two South African information technology companies are merging to form the country’s largest information technology group. The combination of Q Data Ltd and Persetel Holdings Pty Ltd will create a combined company with a market value of around $2.7bn, which will trade under the name Persetel Q Holdings. The holding company plans to separate local and international business out into two companies, with PQ Africa controlling South African interests, and Persetel Q Data International handling all foreign business, including that of Persetel’s German subsidiaries, the mainframer Comparex Informationssysteme GmbH and network integrator Telemation AG, and the UK-based Q Data Consulting Europe. The merger combines Persetel’s mainframe and open systems hardware business with Q Data’s consulting, networking and software products. Persetel chairman Roux Marnitz will chair the new company, with Q Data’s chairman Leen van der Bijl managing the South African business. Persetel’s head of offshore groups, Hermus Erasmus, will head the international business.
